Napoleon intended three French ships to join six ships purchased from Spain at Cádiz, creating a force for operations off Portugal or support to the isolated army in Egypt. Crewing and refitting the Spanish-built ships imposed practical difficulties, including unfamiliar rigging, but their combined strength would overmatch Saumarez's blockading squadron. Saumarez's advantage was geographical: he stood between the two groups and could try to defeat them before they united. The campaign turned on a concentration problem, with the weaker British force trying to prevent two separated enemy groups from combining.
Chapter · 26:40-31:50
Napoleon planned to concentrate nine ships at Cádiz
The Algeciras campaign began with a French plan to unite three ships bound for Cádiz with six vessels acquired from Spain and break the strategic balance around the port.